In April at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) joined global and regional partners at the Misean Cara Conference, placing a strong focus on the future of children with disabilities.
Held under the theme “Children with Disabilities: A Holistic Approach towards Care, Inclusion and Empowerment”, the conference brought together National Associations of Women Religious from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia, alongside congregations, practitioners, and state actors working in child care and protection. The gathering created space for practical conversations on safeguarding, inclusion, and the shift toward family-based care.
AOSK’s presence was anchored in its ongoing work through the Catholic Care for Children in Kenya (CCCK) program. During a plenary session, Sr. Hedwig Muse, AOSK-CCCK Program Manager, shared milestones that reflect years of steady, often complex work behind the scenes.
Working with 145 Catholic Care Institutions, the program has supported a gradual but deliberate transition from institutional care to family-based alternatives, without losing the congregations’ longstanding charism of caring for children. This balance has been central to building trust and sustaining change.
The results are beginning to show. More than 6,000 children have been transitioned out of institutional care, the majority reunited with their families, while others have found support through alternative care arrangements. These outcomes are not accidental; they are the product of coordinated efforts involving government collaboration, continuous training, and a growing emphasis on strengthening families as the first line of care.
Beyond policy and systems, the conversations at KISE pointed to a deeper reality: supporting children with disabilities requires more than goodwill. It calls for alignment, between institutions, families, and communities, and a commitment to respond to both visible and less visible needs.
